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Lunenburg's Jon O'Connor eyes Longsjo race

Lunenburg's Jon O'Connor trains on the hilly terrain of West Street in Lunenburg, in preparation for this weekend's Longsjo Classic. (Courtesy Photo)

Lunenburg resident Jon O'Connor has a great appreciation for the Longsjo Classic.

The 37-year-old Groton-Dunstable Regional High School design photography teacher is honored to be racing so close to home and in a race he absolutely loves and respects.

"The Longsjo has phenomenal tradition," O'Connor said. "It's in my backyard, so I have some local pride for sure. It's very spectator friendly. It's definitely a big rush to be racing downtown."

O'Connor is a member of Cannondale Sports Lingo Jingo, a junior development team.

"Again, what makes this team so special is that we support junior riders entering the sport and help usher them into the higher levels of cycling," O'Connor said.

"A special form of coaching since you are often riding right along side of them and working on their behalf in races. (It is) Wonderful to be getting in touch with our roots with one of the oldest races in U.S. cycling so steeped in tradition and doing so in communion with the next generation of riders."

This will mark the third straight year that O'Connor -- a recent first-time father -- has competed in the Longsjo.

He will be racing in the Cat 3/4 division.

"Even at the Cat 3/4 level there's a lot of training, like eight to 20 hours per week," O'Connor said.

"Nobody shows up to the Longsjo unless they are fit. Everyone dedicates themselves and lives for this.

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Being a new father has altered O'Connor's training schedule slightly, but he's adjusted to home, work and training life and is ready to race tonight in Leominster.

"As a new dad you have to make racing work to fit your life," he said.

"Being a dad and working come first, so you've got to be creative with your training. You've got to get it in when you can. It's fun and challenging."

O'Connor has had success on the bike, winning the Green Mountain general classification title in Vermont for the 4/5 category in 2015.

"It was a huge deal to me," said O'Connor, who finished in second place in two of the four stages to earn the GC title. "I'll never forget it."

O'Connor, who admits he's "passionate about cycling," is also jacked up to compete in three criteriums in Leominster, Worcester and Fitchburg.

"There's nothing like it," said O'Connor about crit racing. "Anyone that has returned punts in football would get a taste for it because you're elbow to elbow with a ton of other guys. Some laps are over 30 miles-per-hour and that's super, duper fast on a bike."

The elite juniors on Cannondale Sports Lingo Jingo are coached by Adam Myerson, one of the bigger names in U.S. criterium racing, says O'Connor.

O'Connor will join four other teammates in the 3/4 Leominster race, and will also have a father-son combo of Douglas and Alexander Chrystall competing in the Pro 1/2 field.

When the races begin, O'Connor admits there are some butterflies.

"There is such a rush," he said. "You have to swallow your nerves."

And he understands how important teamwork is during the three days of racing at the Longsjo Classic.

"Working with a team is great," O'Connor said. "You can't draw a blueprint because a race never goes how you expect it to. You've got to read the race you are in."

O'Connor, without giving away any strategy, says there are a couple things he'll want to focus on when the races rolls around.

"I'm trying to work on good positioning here," he said. "It's extremely important in these races to be near the front of the pack and away from crashes. You've got to read the race and keep your eye on other teams to see what they are doing. You have to have good positioning and know where your competition is."

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